Pages

Thursday, May 12, 2016

DENR launches "Operation baklas" in
SurSur

By Johny S. Natad

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, May 12 (PIA) – The
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Surigao del Sur
initiates an "Operation Baklas to Save Trees" from illegal posting of
election campaign materials nailed and plastered to trees along the national
highway on May 11, 2016.

OIC PENR Officer Raul A. Rosales himself led the
team for the said operation which started from Barangay Balibadon of Cortes
town to Barangay Dayo-an of Tago town. The election posters taken from the
trees during the "Operation Baklas" were turned over to Tandag City
Environmental Solid Waste and Management office for recycling and proper
disposal as mandated by Republic Act (R.A.) 9003.

“We initiated the tearing down of election
campaign posters and commercial advertisements installed on trees along public
roads as part of our mandate to protect and save the trees,” Rosales said.

“Nailing or stapling advertisements and posters to
tree branches or trunks can damage the growth of the trees, and in fact it
makes trees become harmful and stressful. The openings caused by the nails
hammered or staplers fastened to trees could damage the tissues of trees and
make them susceptible from fungi and other pathogenic organisms which might
kill the trees. It is therefore our task to immediately teardown all
advertisements nailed and posted on trees to rescue and save them from such
destruction,” Rosales explained.

The "Operation Baklas to Save Trees" was
based on the Presidential Decree No. 953 issued on July 1976 and R.A. 3571. Under
this law, it is unlawful to damage or destroy “trees of any kind” in public
roads, parks, plazas or other public areas.

Rosales also disclosed that “Operation Baklas to
Save Trees” is part of DENR’s task in accordance with the Joint
DENR-DILG-COMELEC Memo Circular 2013-01 which ensures a “Basura-Free Election.”

“Comelec Resolution No. 6616 upheld the
Presidential Decree No. 853 and R.A. 3571 which created a task force to monitor
violators and tear down materials found violating the law during pre and
post-election periods,” Senoc revealed. “It is for this reason that the DENR is
now implementing this activity and help ensure a clean and green election,”
Senoc added. (PENRO-SDS/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

FNRI-DOST launches iFNRI website

By Divorah V. Aguila

MANILA, May 12 (PIA) - In a communication
initiative to boost virtual access to crucial health and nutrition information
in the country, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of
Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) established a web-based service called iFNRI
that serves as an online tool for food and nutrition information.

The website launched last February 23, 2016 will
serve as an authoritative food and nutrition resource for both consumers,
especially homemakers, nutrition practitioners, students, and educators.Extension workers, policymakers and planners,
local government units, food manufacturers and food industry participants also
stand to benefit from the site.

The new online site is a convenient reference source
for current data and trends in food and nutrition for professionals and can
help mothers apply sound nutrition concepts in daily life.It can also serve as a basis for developing
school nutrition programs, provide reference information to hotels, restaurants
and other institutions in menu planning, and guide industrial canteen
concessionaires in maximizing the nutritional value of menus for employees.

The FNRI, created in 1947, is the principal
research arm of the government in food and nutrition, and is one of the
research and development institutes (RDIs) of the DOST.The online resource for food and nutrition
information is in line with FNRI’s mandate of providing relevant technologies
and scientific information on food and nutrition.

Over the years, the FNRI’s major accomplishments
include developing and commercializing nutritional food products; conducting
periodic, nationwide nutrition surveys; building an analytical food quality and
safety assurance system; establishing strategies and programs to address
malnutrition; and formulating tools, guidelines and standards to serve the
needs of nutrition and nutrition-related workers.

Under-nutrition and over-nutrition are persistent
concerns in the country that bear socio-economic and health implications.The most common of this being protein-energy
malnutrition or PEM and micronutrient deficiencies.Infants and children under five years, as
well as pregnant women and lactating mothers, are the most vulnerable groups,
especially those in depressed areas.

One of the recognized causes of malnutrition is
the limited access to up-to-date and accurate food and nutrition data among
stakeholders including the well-to-do. Thus, constant exposure to food and
nutrition information data delivered through various means of communication
channels and strategies is crucial.With
iFNRI, the Institute’s mission to provide optimum nutrition for Filipino people
is facilitated!

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, May 12 (PIA) - Ten
agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from Hinatuan, this province took their
oath recently at the Municipal Trial Court of Barobo affirming their commitment
to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of government.

Said oath taking is required as provided in the
rules and regulations of becoming an ARB and what are their obligations upon
receiving the certificate of land ownership award (CLOA). Among the obligations
cited include the paying of their annual amortization with Land Bank of the
Philippines (LBP), prohibition period of 10 years not to sell, transfer or
convert the awarded lot unless fully paid at LBP, cultivate the land
productively and pay taxes.

The obligations stated above are also relative to
one of the requirements of the LBP in the processing of Voluntary Offer to Sell
Claim Folders (VOSCFs) and/or Compulsory Acquisition Claim Folders (CACFs).

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer
Benjamin M. Mataksil said the oath ensures that the identified
farmer-beneficiaries have underwent a selection process conducted by the
Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officers as provided in Section 22 of
Republic Act No. 6657 also known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law. (PIO-DAR/PIA-Surigao
del Sur)

FNRI Laboratory Services to go online through SL
IOS

By Rosemarie J. Dumag

MANILA, May 12 (PIA) - The FNRI-Service Laboratory
(FNRI-SL) is an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited group of facilities that is
committed to deliver high quality and timely laboratory testing and
consultation services. It aims to meet customers’ satisfaction overseen by
professional management while promoting advancement and safe working
environment. It offers chemical, microbiological and biochemical analyses in
food, feed, water and biological samples.

To improve its services, the FNRI-SL Integrated
Online System (FNRI-SL IOS) was developed as an innovation in serving customers
through an online system of transaction to replace paper-based processes. The
FNRI-SL IOS is under the iFNRI program which harmonizes the different ICT
projects of the institute. Under the iFNRI are six components namely iAsses,
iServe, iBusiness, iPromote, iLearn and iAdmin. The FNRI-SL IOS is under iServe
that enables the laboratory processes more automated for an efficient and
effective workflow and iBusiness which links the internal and external data
processing system of the Institute to work closely with partners.

The FNRI-SL IOS provides faster and convenient
transaction and better data management with full traceability of all stages of
the laboratory processes. The laboratory workflow was automated and all forms
and processes, including service quotation, request of analysis, payment
transaction, customer feedback, report of analysis, and statistical reports
were translated electronically. Tracking of status of laboratory services
requested can be easily monitored any time.